Moving-Help Me Decide!

Ranger Butch Force · 09-28-2011, 12:30 PM

So, I want to move out of this town and I have four places in mind.

Boston, Mass
Austin, TX
Fort Collins, CO
Portland, OR

I'm seriously considering throwing a party and picking one out of a hat.

Novelafemme · 09-28-2011, 12:36 PM

Hi RBF,

What appeals to you about each of those places? Can you handle the heat in Austin, the overcast weather in Portland, the snow in Boston (I know virtually nothing about CO)? I totally know what you mean about picking a place from a hat. I am sooooooo ready to move.

Corkey · 09-28-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger Butch Force

So, I want to move out of this town and I have four places in mind.

Boston, Mass
Austin, TX
Fort Collins, CO
Portland, OR

I'm seriously considering throwing a party and picking one out of a hat.

Are there job opportunities in any of these places?
Will you and the weather get along?
What of community, is there one?
Can you afford to live there?
Commute distances?
Arts, theater, unless it doesn't matter to you?
Taxes, not texas.
Home v.s. renting?
Are your ex's in the area?

Just a few thoughts. Welcome to the Planet.

ruffryder · 09-28-2011, 12:38 PM

hehe.. nice!

I just moved from N.E. Colorado to N.E. Florida. I love it here! I loved Colorado too, don't get me wrong. It was just time for a change..

Looks like you got some great spots picked there, tough choice. I guess it depends what your interests are and what you are looking for. Gonna fore-go the snow for TX? That's what I'll probably miss most in Colorado along with the mountains. As for Fort Collins, spending time there myself, I know it's a college town. It is close to the mountains! So that's a plus. If you go for Colorado I would say Loveland, Estes Park, or suburb of Denver, like Aurora. However, if you are into the college scene, beer, people expressing themselves then Ft. Collins is for you! Boulder is another place just like Ft. Collins.

I know someone in Colorado that would love to go back to Oregon.
I been to Boston and it is a great place also! Huge, but great!

I hope you get some more ideas and opinions/experiences.. good luck!

apretty · 09-28-2011, 12:45 PM

Portland--It's where young people go to retire!

*plus, Juney lives there!

Greyson · 09-28-2011, 12:46 PM

I vote for Portland, Oregon. IMO, Portland is a great city. Powells Book Store, a bicycling friendly city. Portland is not too big or too small. Queer Community, Arts, "affordable" housing. No sales tax! Close to Seattle and a bit of a longer drive to Vancouver, B.C. The natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is incredible. Mountains, Ocean, rivers, agricultural land.

As for the weather, I don't live there so you should talk to some of the locals there but what I have seen there is "spit and drizzle" rain, light snow and friendly people.

Ranger Butch Force · 09-28-2011, 12:52 PM

Here's why I chose these places.

Boston, Mass
Pros
I have friends that live there.
It's a big city with lots of neighborhoods.
There's an ocean RIGHT THERE!
Cons
It's expensive to live there.
I like snow, but not THAT much snow!

Austin, TX
Pros
I have friends that live there.
There is a huge Burning Man community there.
The weather is similar to where I live now.
Cons
The weather is similar to where I live now.

Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Lots of outdoorsy stuff to do.
Quite a number of factorys there (although I'd transfer within my current company)
Easy town to get around in.
Cons
Don't know anyone there.
Altitude

Portland, OR
Pros
The ocean is RIGHT THERE!
There's green stuff everywhere.
I don't mind the rain.
Cons
Don't know anyone there.

Ranger Butch Force · 09-28-2011, 01:05 PM

To add to all of this-

All my life I've moved because someone wanted me to move to where they are. Now, it's MY turn to move where I want to move to!

There are things that I need in these cities and they are, in no particular order:

Must have a good sized Burning Man community
Must have a good sized GLBT community
Must have a decent night life
Must have a good public transportation system
Must have an arts type of district

This is what I can think of off the top of my head, and there really ain't much there!

BullDog · 09-28-2011, 01:11 PM

Another vote for Portland. It has all those things on your list.

It is tough to find a job though and even when employers are hiring they tend to be slow as molasses to actually get someone hired for a job. In this economy I am not sure it is worse than the other places on your list or not.

I love Portland!

Ranger Butch Force · 09-28-2011, 01:27 PM

Someone asked if I had ex's in any of those cities. The answer is no. Not yet anyways.

Abigail Crabby · 09-28-2011, 01:44 PM

Having lived in Boston, I couldn't ever do that winter weather again

I have considered Austin - Poppi and I have talked about it. Nice gay community.

Any place that snows more than the 3 or 4 inches of snow I get now I vote against lol

Gayla · 09-28-2011, 02:07 PM

I will start by saying that I don't know anything about Boston.

I vote Portland. It's got a similar feel to Ft. Collins but is much cooler. There's a ton of outdoor stuff to do, much of which is similar to the types of outdoor stuff in Ft. Collins, just less of the rugged mountain kind of thing and more trees. They've also got a MUCH larger and more active BF and GLBT community than Ft. Collins.

If the heat/humidity isn't an issue than I'd say Austin. I've heard the food there is pretty good.

princessbelle · 09-28-2011, 02:11 PM

My vote is Portland as well.

I recently visited there for the first time and completely fell in love with it.

The ocean is a picture right out of a book. The rocks the clifts and the beach...everything you would want.

If you love the ocean, which it seems from your posts is a plus, don't settle for anything but being at least near it.

Someday i will live near that vast beautiful giant being of water....got a feeling it will be Portland for myself.

Good luck!!!!

Amber2010 · 09-28-2011, 02:11 PM

You are so lucky to be able to pick up and just try something new in a new city or state. All of those cities have great things to do and I would look them up to check out what would be interesting to me. My personal favorite would be to be near the beach but I am a beach girl myself. lol

Gemme · 09-28-2011, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger Butch Force

Here's why I chose these places.

Boston, Mass
Pros
I have friends that live there.
It's a big city with lots of neighborhoods.
There's an ocean RIGHT THERE!
Cons
It's expensive to live there.
I like snow, but not THAT much snow!

Austin, TX
Pros
I have friends that live there.
There is a huge Burning Man community there.
The weather is similar to where I live now.
Cons
The weather is similar to where I live now.

Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Lots of outdoorsy stuff to do.
Quite a number of factorys there (although I'd transfer within my current company)
Easy town to get around in.
Cons
Don't know anyone there.
Altitude

Portland, OR
Pros
The ocean is RIGHT THERE!
There's green stuff everywhere.
I don't mind the rain.
Cons
Don't know anyone there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger Butch Force

To add to all of this-

All my life I've moved because someone wanted me to move to where they are. Now, it's MY turn to move where I want to move to!

There are things that I need in these cities and they are, in no particular order:

Must have a good sized Burning Man community
Must have a good sized GLBT community
Must have a decent night life
Must have a good public transportation system
Must have an arts type of district

This is what I can think of off the top of my head, and there really ain't much there!

I'm in Austin and I really like it. Though I am a delicate flower and don't care for the heat and we are in the midst of the worst drought in more than 50 years, I like it. Anyone who knows me knows that means something.

There is a EXCELLENT community here in Austin, spread from the deep south parts of the city to cleaner and thinner aired parts of the city. As far as public transportation goes, it is good if you are downtown and/or close to the heart of the city. Okay elsewhere, but certainly not great. Austin is the music capital! The heart of the nightlife and the heart of the art district and the heart of the city are basically one big heart.

I'm not a Burning Man-er, but it sounds like you already know that that's good here.

I'm going to throw something else out there. It's a cheaper cost of living here versus OR. I'm only really comparing TX to OR right now because they are the only two on your list that only have one con.

There is the beige versus green thing. However, luckily, there are a bunch of places where you can plant your own green things so that you have green around all the time, should you so desire.

Oh, and when it does rain in Austin....and it will for more than 12 seconds, one day....it differentiates between cold and warm rain. The PNW only has cold rain. That might not make a difference to you, but if I'm getting rained on, I don't want it to feel like needles.

Take this for what it's worth. Of the four, I've only lived in Austin, though I did spend more than 4 years in WA, so I do have experience in the PNW. I can say that if you don't choose Austin, my feelings wouldn't be hurt if you did choose Portland, cuz there are some nice folks there too. If you choose CO or MA with winter coming.......you are a masochist and really should be in Austin, where we can keep an eye on you.

Arwen · 09-28-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger Butch Force

Austin, TX
Pros
I have friends that live there.
There is a huge Burning Man community there.
The weather is similar to where I live now.
Cons
The weather is similar to where I live now.

AUSTIN!

I would say subscribe to the community threads and hang out with the BFP people that are here there. (that makes sense if you read it fast...I think.)

But Austin throws regular parties. We are a good group and we live all over so you can whine about those of us who are too far south or those of them who are too far north.

Truly, Austin is a good fit if you are weird and like to celebrate your weirdness.

But it is hot. Ungodly this summer. But we don't get too much cold which is one of the reasons I left Denver.

Are you a sports fan? We've got that.
Music fan? We've got that too.
Food lover? OMGay do we have that.

And, if you can, visit each one.

But really, why waste all that time? Move to Austin. It's where the cool kids go.

Unless you are a cool kid who lives somewhere else. (CYA and running now)

Arwen · 09-28-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemme

really should be in Austin, where we can keep an eye on you.

HAHAHAHA! JINX!

Apocalipstic · 09-28-2011, 02:53 PM

Boston is soosososososo expensive.

All my Austin pals love it there and cost of living is not bad at all.

I have always wanted to live in Oregon for some reason, though I have not been there.

Colorado, I have no clue.

justkim · 09-28-2011, 03:01 PM

Fort Collins is a great town! College town, if that is what you like.
Your not that far from Denver and really the Altitude isn't anything, only a mile above sea level, hence the name Mile High City... now it does take a while to get use to but not long at all...

Good luck no matter where you go...

Starbuck · 09-28-2011, 03:04 PM

Having lived 35miles from Boston for almost 3 years, I can tell you I HATED the winters there!! It would snow, that would freeze, then it would snow on top of the iced snow and then do it all over again! And having to move your car so plowing could get done was a real pain in the butt too!

And don't get me started on how RUDE the drivers are in Boston! They will cut you off then flip you off like you did something wrong. It's a whole different style of driving up there. You have to learn to jump out in the smallest of spaces or you'll end up sitting and sitting waiting to get out, then people are honking at you. I certainly learned a new way to drive up there!

BUT! The best thing about Boston that I love is the Boston Red Sox! I got to see them twice at Fenway Park (pronounced pock) and I've been a fan ever since.

09-28-2011, 12:30 PM	#1
Ranger Butch Force Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Black Rock City, Nevada Posts: 182 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 40 Thanked 315 Times in 118 Posts Rep Power: 5084027	Moving-Help Me Decide! So, I want to move out of this town and I have four places in mind. Boston, Mass Austin, TX Fort Collins, CO Portland, OR I'm seriously considering throwing a party and picking one out of a hat. __________________ THERE IS NO TEAM IN FUCK YOU

09-28-2011, 12:46 PM	#6
Greyson Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Transmasculine/Non-Binary Preferred Pronoun?: Hy (Pronounced He) Relationship Status: Married Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,589 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 21,132 Thanked 8,165 Times in 2,007 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	I vote for Portland, Oregon. IMO, Portland is a great city. Powells Book Store, a bicycling friendly city. Portland is not too big or too small. Queer Community, Arts, "affordable" housing. No sales tax! Close to Seattle and a bit of a longer drive to Vancouver, B.C. The natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest is incredible. Mountains, Ocean, rivers, agricultural land. As for the weather, I don't live there so you should talk to some of the locals there but what I have seen there is "spit and drizzle" rain, light snow and friendly people. __________________ Sometimes you don't realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness. - Susan Gale

09-28-2011, 12:52 PM	#7
Ranger Butch Force Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Black Rock City, Nevada Posts: 182 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 40 Thanked 315 Times in 118 Posts Rep Power: 5084027	Here's why I chose these places. Boston, Mass Pros I have friends that live there. It's a big city with lots of neighborhoods. There's an ocean RIGHT THERE! Cons It's expensive to live there. I like snow, but not THAT much snow! Austin, TX Pros I have friends that live there. There is a huge Burning Man community there. The weather is similar to where I live now. Cons The weather is similar to where I live now. Fort Collins, CO Pros Lots of outdoorsy stuff to do. Quite a number of factorys there (although I'd transfer within my current company) Easy town to get around in. Cons Don't know anyone there. Altitude Portland, OR Pros The ocean is RIGHT THERE! There's green stuff everywhere. I don't mind the rain. Cons Don't know anyone there. __________________ THERE IS NO TEAM IN FUCK YOU

09-28-2011, 01:05 PM	#8
Ranger Butch Force Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Black Rock City, Nevada Posts: 182 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 40 Thanked 315 Times in 118 Posts Rep Power: 5084027	To add to all of this- All my life I've moved because someone wanted me to move to where they are. Now, it's MY turn to move where I want to move to! There are things that I need in these cities and they are, in no particular order: Must have a good sized Burning Man community Must have a good sized GLBT community Must have a decent night life Must have a good public transportation system Must have an arts type of district This is what I can think of off the top of my head, and there really ain't much there! __________________ THERE IS NO TEAM IN FUCK YOU

09-28-2011, 01:11 PM	#9
BullDog Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Dominant Stone Butch Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: She Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: In A Healing Place Posts: 5,371 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 18,160 Thanked 22,783 Times in 4,470 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Another vote for Portland. It has all those things on your list. It is tough to find a job though and even when employers are hiring they tend to be slow as molasses to actually get someone hired for a job. In this economy I am not sure it is worse than the other places on your list or not. I love Portland! __________________ Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and touch and greet each other. - Rainer Maria Rilke

09-28-2011, 12:36 PM	#2
Novelafemme Timed Out - TOS Drama How Do You Identify?: ........ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ........ Posts: 2,402 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,981 Thanked 8,925 Times in 1,834 Posts Rep Power: 0	Hi RBF, What appeals to you about each of those places? Can you handle the heat in Austin, the overcast weather in Portland, the snow in Boston (I know virtually nothing about CO)? I totally know what you mean about picking a place from a hat. I am sooooooo ready to move.

09-28-2011, 12:38 PM	#4
ruffryder Senior Member How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: guy ones Relationship Status: ... Join Date: May 2011 Location: chillin' in FL Posts: 3,690 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 21,951 Thanked 9,678 Times in 2,875 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	hehe.. nice! I just moved from N.E. Colorado to N.E. Florida. I love it here! I loved Colorado too, don't get me wrong. It was just time for a change.. Looks like you got some great spots picked there, tough choice. I guess it depends what your interests are and what you are looking for. Gonna fore-go the snow for TX? That's what I'll probably miss most in Colorado along with the mountains. As for Fort Collins, spending time there myself, I know it's a college town. It is close to the mountains! So that's a plus. If you go for Colorado I would say Loveland, Estes Park, or suburb of Denver, like Aurora. However, if you are into the college scene, beer, people expressing themselves then Ft. Collins is for you! Boulder is another place just like Ft. Collins. I know someone in Colorado that would love to go back to Oregon. I been to Boston and it is a great place also! Huge, but great! I hope you get some more ideas and opinions/experiences.. good luck!

09-28-2011, 12:45 PM	#5
apretty Senior Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: sea shell Relationship Status: married Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: san diego Posts: 1,687 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,927 Thanked 4,377 Times in 1,015 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Portland--*It's where young people go to retire! plus, Juney lives there!

09-28-2011, 01:27 PM	#10
Ranger Butch Force Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Black Rock City, Nevada Posts: 182 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 40 Thanked 315 Times in 118 Posts Rep Power: 5084027	Someone asked if I had ex's in any of those cities. The answer is no. Not yet anyways. __________________ THERE IS NO TEAM IN FUCK YOU

09-28-2011, 01:44 PM	#11
Abigail Crabby Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Queer Femme Preferred Pronoun?: Princess Relationship Status: Single, but sociable Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mount Airy, NC Posts: 4,226 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 14,554 Thanked 9,667 Times in 2,484 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	Having lived in Boston, I couldn't ever do that winter weather again I have considered Austin - Poppi and I have talked about it. Nice gay community. Any place that snows more than the 3 or 4 inches of snow I get now I vote against lol __________________ Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust Turns whatever happens to you into a positive...

09-28-2011, 02:07 PM	#12
Gayla Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Kinky Butch Top Preferred Pronoun?: I'm not picky Relationship Status: She makes me dance like a fool and forget how to breathe. Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SF CA Posts: 3,229 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 877 Thanked 7,078 Times in 1,966 Posts Rep Power: 0	I will start by saying that I don't know anything about Boston. I vote Portland. It's got a similar feel to Ft. Collins but is much cooler. There's a ton of outdoor stuff to do, much of which is similar to the types of outdoor stuff in Ft. Collins, just less of the rugged mountain kind of thing and more trees. They've also got a MUCH larger and more active BF and GLBT community than Ft. Collins. If the heat/humidity isn't an issue than I'd say Austin. I've heard the food there is pretty good.

09-28-2011, 02:11 PM	#13
princessbelle Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: femme ones Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,100 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,380 Thanked 30,503 Times in 5,201 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	My vote is Portland as well. I recently visited there for the first time and completely fell in love with it. The ocean is a picture right out of a book. The rocks the clifts and the beach...everything you would want. If you love the ocean, which it seems from your posts is a plus, don't settle for anything but being at least near it. Someday i will live near that vast beautiful giant being of water....got a feeling it will be Portland for myself. Good luck!!!! __________________ ~ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

09-28-2011, 02:11 PM	#14
Amber2010 Member How Do You Identify?: Happy, Crazy, Bubbly, Funny, Strong, Outgoing, Friendly Preferred Pronoun?: Femme Relationship Status: Complicated Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 200 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 920 Thanked 594 Times in 154 Posts Rep Power: 3787183	You are so lucky to be able to pick up and just try something new in a new city or state. All of those cities have great things to do and I would look them up to check out what would be interesting to me. My personal favorite would be to be near the beach but I am a beach girl myself. lol

09-28-2011, 02:53 PM	#18
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,383 Times in 2,840 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	Boston is soosososososo expensive. All my Austin pals love it there and cost of living is not bad at all. I have always wanted to live in Oregon for some reason, though I have not been there. Colorado, I have no clue. __________________

09-28-2011, 03:01 PM	#19
justkim Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Me... Preferred Pronoun?: ... Relationship Status: <3 myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ... Posts: 2,023 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,062 Thanked 6,801 Times in 1,553 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Fort Collins is a great town! College town, if that is what you like. Your not that far from Denver and really the Altitude isn't anything, only a mile above sea level, hence the name Mile High City... now it does take a while to get use to but not long at all... Good luck no matter where you go... __________________ Kim "A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success." - Unknown -

09-28-2011, 03:04 PM	#20
Starbuck Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Soft Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, her Relationship Status: Unavailable Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 2,436 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,378 Thanked 2,148 Times in 756 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Boston Having lived 35miles from Boston for almost 3 years, I can tell you I HATED the winters there!! It would snow, that would freeze, then it would snow on top of the iced snow and then do it all over again! And having to move your car so plowing could get done was a real pain in the butt too! And don't get me started on how RUDE the drivers are in Boston! They will cut you off then flip you off like you did something wrong. It's a whole different style of driving up there. You have to learn to jump out in the smallest of spaces or you'll end up sitting and sitting waiting to get out, then people are honking at you. I certainly learned a new way to drive up there! BUT! The best thing about Boston that I love is the Boston Red Sox! I got to see them twice at Fenway Park (pronounced pock) and I've been a fan ever since. __________________ To forgive is to set the prisoner free, And then discover the prisoner was you.